Won’t Back Down

I want to share two things I know will inspire and challenge you. The first is a movie – and the second is a recent New York Times column.

One month from today – Friday, September 28 – the movie “Won’t Back Down” will be released across the country. The movie is a G-rated version of reality – and it’s a definite “must see.”

The movie tells the story of a parent – played by Maggie Gyllenhaal – who joins forces with a teacher – played by Viola Davis – to fix their children’s struggling school.

Major Motion Picture on Education Reform Inspired by Real Events

“Won’t Back Down” Tells The Story of How One California Community Fought Back to Fix Its Failing School; And Now It’s Happening Nationwide

Major Motion Picture on Education Reform Inspired by Real Events

“Won’t Back Down” Tells The Story of How One California Community Fought Back to Fix Its Failing School; And Now It’s Happening Nationwide

Adelanto School Board Defies Court

On August 17, 2012, Adelanto School Board members did the unthinkable: in outright defiance of a superior court judge's order, the school board voted to reject the court-approved petition by Desert Trails Elementary parents to convert the persistently failing school into a charter school.

Acknowledging the board's rejection of the judge's order, one board member went so far as to dare the judge to lock him up:

Adelanto Board Member Jermaine Wright: "If I am found in contempt of court, I brought my own handcuffs. Take me away today, I don't care anymore."

AP: Adelanto School Parents Must Return to Court to Force Board Compliance with Judge's Order

Associated Press reporter Christina Hoag reports that parents from the Desert Trails Parents Union must return to court to force the Adelanto School Board to comply with a judge's order to convert the failing school into a charter school. The school board defied the judge's order to convert Desert Trails Elementary School into a charter school, a right granted to parents under California's Parent Trigger Law.

Adelanto School Board Decides To Violate Court Ruling on Desert Trails Parent Trigger Petition

Victorville, Calif. – August 18, 2012 – In the wake of Superior Court Judge Steve Malone’s historic July 18 ruling in favor of the Desert Trails Parent Union (DTPU) Parent Trigger Petition the Adelanto school board on Friday night, August 17, voted to flagrantly violate Judge Malone’s order and to continue its never ending attempts to preserve the status quo at any cost.

Media Backgrounder Update on Adelanto School District/Desert Trails Parent Trigger Petition Implementation

Today – Friday, August 17 – is the last day for the Adelanto School District Board to accept the rescinded Parent Trigger petitions pursuant to Superior Court Judge Steve Malone’s order of July 18.

AB 5: A step backwards for teacher effectiveness

AB 5, the once positive bill designed to improve teacher evaluations in California, will move forward, moved out of committee today.
Click here to read John Fensterwald's article about it.

Reed vs. LA Unified Nullified

Students trapped in systemically failing schools suffered a setback on Friday when a California appeals court nullified the landmark settlement adopted in January last year which had protected the schools from the harmful policy of quality-blind layoffs that are common throughout public education.

Read about the landmark decision here.

Desert Trails parents have a choice

John Fensterwald had a great piece on EdSource this week describing the upcoming RFP process at Desert Trails Elementary. The Desert Trails Parent Union in Adelanto County will have the opportunity to choose between three proposals to improve their local elementary school. Four letters of intent were submitted to the Union, and three were requested to write a proposal for the new and improved school. Check out this article for details.

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